stanley

Shooting sticks!!! I learned 'old school', sitting on my butt with the rifle resting on one knee. Shooting sticks were HUGE in helping all three of my children shoot at a young age! S.

Yup, he's a pretty cool dude. BTW, if you don't have TV, I think you can watch his shows online @ thesportsmanchannel.com. (At least I thought that's what he said at the end of his last show....). Check it out! S.

I was fortunate enough to draw a Unit 1 archery bull tag this year. The last time I had an archery elk tag for unit 1 was a cow tag about 11 years ago. (My elk hunting in the past 10 years or so has been focused in the 6A & 6B units. Jr. hunts, mainly......) That being said, I've been enjoying some weekend time this summer renewing my love for the White Mountains! It's changed a bit since I last spent much time there; Like the Big Lake road being paved the whole way..... and of course the effects of the Wallow fire. I'm narrowing my target areas down to a couple, and was hoping to bounce a couple of questions off of someone who has spent some time in the unit and/or maybe chat with a local or two. Let me know if you would be willing to chat with me. The usual disclaimer of course is that I am NOT looking for honey holes! Please send me a PM if you are willing to talk or email off-line. Thanks in advance, and good luck to all!! S.

In a strange way, I wish there was more time before the opener! Is that messed-up, or what? Pressure to scout and shoot more is looming large for me right now...... Feeling like I need more time! Will be back up in Unit 1 scouting again this weekend! Loving it! S.

VERY awesome!!! .22s, young kids, rabbits..... Good stuff! S.

SO AWESOME!!!!! Way to go, Nick!!!! Congrats, and thanks for sharing the amazing story with the site!! S.

Thanks for the reminder, Tom! I just went in and picked-up one of the few remaining tickets! Can't be there all day, but I will definitely swing by.... S.

Brings back great memories!! All of my kids did the Y.O.U. Hunter Safety course (Two of them at the Happy Jack location.....). You guys will have a great time! Woody, Duane, Bill, and the entire Y.O.U. crew do an outstanding job, IMO!! Have fun!! S. Here are a few pics from 7 years ago when my little sweetie went through it! Can't believe she is 17 years old now!! Greta during the shooting proficiency portion. Nice form! Checking targets! Class time on the porch.

Yup! How the next waiting period begins for some of us who don't know which unit yet.....

I thought it was going to be a picture of Andy.... S.

Get involved in some of the local hunting organizations (RMEF, AEF, AZ Deer Association, etc...). Participate in the camps/activities that those organizations have...... Hunting camps, trash clean-up projects, water projects, fences, youth camps, banquets, etc. That could be a good way to meet some like-minded folks. Happy hunting! S.

With a name like that, I would take his advice!!!! (Sorry.... Couldn't resist.) I know it's not a laughing matter. Good luck! S.

Thanks for the replies and encouragement, all! Even the entertainment tips..... (Though I have tried to stay out of the bars for the past couple of years..... Topless or otherwise. ) Also BIG thanks for the several of folks who have sent me notes off-line! Got some good general info, and confirmed some assumptions. Goes without saying that this is without question the greatest hunting site going!!! Heading-up again next weekend for three days of camping/fishing/scouting! Loving life!!! S.

Nice!! I have the early archery bull hunt. S.

Thanks for the break from work.... Best 7 minutes I've spent all day, by a long shot!!! S.

Sounds like you're getting some good referrals. Here's one more: Arizona Sports Medicine Center (ASMC.com). Dr. Richard Freedberg did my shoulder 3 1/2 years ago. Was TOTALLY jacked-up; separated, shredded Rotator Cuff, etc.... (Tripped on a tent stake in the dark on my daughter's Jr. Deer hunt.... LOL). Anyway, he did an amazing job. Good luck! S.

Love Utah! I had hunted the Navajo Lake / Panguitch area for several years (both rifle and archery). Lots of deer there, but lots of people. We then switched to the Nine Mile unit 2 out of the past 3 years, rifle. (Just N.E. of Price) I like Nine Mile..... Big country, and there are plenty of areas with not much road access. Good to hike in and get away from the crowds. Like almost any unit in Utah, there are some decent deer there. 140 is definitely possible, IMO. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about any other details. S.

+1 on Strawberry being a sweet lake! Also some nice creek fishing in that area, if you time the season right. I also like Paguitch lake. Some nice fish in there, and great muley country too! Good luck and have fun!! LOVE Utah! S.

+1 for Schwartz! He did my eyes 10 years ago and I'm still 20/20! Great deal with a VERY reputable surgeon! S.

Umm..... OK. It was a gorilla. Kid was at risk. Dude with the gun made a decision to shoot it, else kid may die. I have absolutely NO problem with that. Should they take a look at how the kid got in there in the first place, of course (Whether malice on the zoo's part, the mom's part, or no malice at all....). I have raised kids, just like most on this site. Sometimes they got out of hand and got into situations where they should have not been. Shame on me? Sure..... It's life though. Dangerous world, and stuff happens. People get criticized for being 'helicopter parents' and criticized for not watching their kids close enough. Yep. S.

Umm..... Like Duwane Adams? I got a solicitation from him for my Unit 1 archery tag..... Nothing wrong with an outfitter trying to grow their business, IMO. S.

This is a good time of year for that! In the old days we used to focus on the Salt River arm of the lake.... Use bluegills for bait for the BIG ones! Good luck! S.

You're joking, right? Do you know what coercion means? Umm.... Incenting folks to sign-up for the portal and/ or driving traffic to the portal. Yes, but coercing anyone? Too funny... I frankly don't see anything wrong with it, nor do I care. WAY more important things for me to wonder about or speculate over..... I used to wait until close to what ever the published date for 'draw results being mailed' before I could see the results online. Now if I choose to willingly (without anyone strong-arming me or coercing me...), I can sign-up and end the speculation and guessing in my brain a little earlier. If I didn't like the idea of the portal, I would simply not sign-up and wait until the published date. Simple, IMO... S. I guess I did go "black helicopters" with my OP. Still wonder why they are pushing the portal so hard. They could have put results out on all 3 venues (phone, web, portal) and avoided any speculation as to their motives. I was at a G&F meeting a couple of years ago where I first heard about the portal idea. They were seeking comment on this and other ideas. If I remember correctly, they were looking at a way to get more active engagement from sportsmen in the state. Another way to try to drive interactions & traffic to the internet vs. phone/mail. I don't really recall much else about the meeting regarding motivation for them building/pushing the portal (meeting was a LONG time ago... ). S.

You're joking, right? Do you know what coercion means? Umm.... Incenting folks to sign-up for the portal and/ or driving traffic to the portal. Yes, but coercing anyone? Too funny... I frankly don't see anything wrong with it, nor do I care. WAY more important things for me to wonder about or speculate over..... I used to wait until close to what ever the published date for 'draw results being mailed' before I could see the results online. Now if I choose to willingly (without anyone strong-arming me or coercing me...), I can sign-up and end the speculation and guessing in my brain a little earlier. If I didn't like the idea of the portal, I would simply not sign-up and wait until the published date. Simple, IMO... S.